Kilskeagh castle

Explorer Tom Cuan Mhuire gates are decorative enough to make you stop your car and look like an idiot. There's a bird that refuses to leave, probably because it likes the view of the former house. Ring your granny and tell her I'm admiring the metalwork.

Explorer Tom Oliver Brown Monument is just a pile of stones where a man fell off his horse. If it won the lotto, it would probably buy a bigger hat for itself. Snap one photo, then put your phone away and stare!

Explorer Tom Barnaderg Castle hears everything through its thick walls, from the O'Kelly clan arguing about who got the last potato in the seventeenth century to modern-day tourists complaining about the parking situation. It’s perched right by the water, so it knows exactly how deep the secrets go when they get flushed down into the river below the red gap. Bring sandwiches, the gulls will thank you.

Explorer Tom Castle in Castle Ellen sits right next door to the big house, looking like it forgot how to be modern. The 1838 map shows a bawn, which is just fancy talk for a fenced-in yard. Great spot to propose. Or at least to propose lunch.

Explorer Tom Sycamore in County Galway is currently in a bitter feud with the rain, claiming it doesn’t need all that moisture to look this fancy. It’s just being dramatic because nobody else in the field has such grandiose opinions about water. Make a wish, it's had centuries of practice.

Explorer Tom Common Whitebeam would win the county fair for best looking apple substitute if it bothered to enter. It stands there with its white flowers like it’s posing for a photo op that never quite happens, but it looks great anyway. A proper spot for a flask of tea and a big think.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Lackagh Beg is still in use next to a ruined church. A goat once ruled this place and left its mark on the fences. Bring a friend who talks too much and let the place shut them up.

Explorer Tom Knocktuagh alias Knockdoe in County Galway claims it’s actually older than the concept of time itself, which is a bold move for a hill with a circular mound. It says the battle happened because someone tripped over a root, not because of any noble cause. Find the date carved somewhere and feel clever; you’ll probably be wrong.

Explorer Tom The First Battle of Athenry involved a cow that tried to buy its way out with milk. History is mostly made up by people who were hungry. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography.

Explorer Tom Athenry Castle in County Galway is the favorite gossip spot for the local seagulls, who complain about the fish supply daily. They’ve been doing this since before your grandparents were born. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.

Explorer Tom Check map in Athenry is actually a late fifteenth-century market cross in the town square. It’s been watching people haggle for centuries while pretending it doesn’t care about prices. Pretend it's yours and plan the housewarming party with local vendors.

Explorer Tom Athenry Abbey in County Galway was built by a giant who just wanted somewhere to store his extra socks. The monks were too polite to ask him to move out later. Have a nosey, politely.